FAA certifies Embraer’s E-Freighter

The E-Freighter, Embraer’s E190F has been fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Embraer’s passenger-to-freighter conversion and the Cargo Loading System, developed by U.S. Cargo Systems, received the FAA certification in September 2024. In July, the E-Freighter was certified by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) and EASA certification is due later this year. The aircraft was developed to fill a gap in the air cargo market and to replace older, less efficient models.

The E190F program was launched in May 2022 to meet the changing demands of e-commerce and modern trade, which require fast deliveries and decentralized operations driving the demand for faster delivery of shipments to regional markets. The E-Freighter made its debut flight in April and its first public appearance during the Farnborough Airshow in July.

“FAA certification is an important milestone in our passenger-to-freighter conversion program. We are excited to enter this market, filling a gap that has evolved in the market to meet the growing demand globally for faster deliveries, not just to metro areas, but to all regions. With our E-Jet footprint across the U.S. and worldwide, we are offering optimum cargo solutions to our customers for this connected world,” said Martyn Holmes, chief commercial officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation.

E-Jets converted to freighters will have more than 40% more volume capacity, three times the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30% lower operating costs than larger narrowbodies. If combining capacity under the floor and main deck, the maximum structural payload is 13,500kg for the E190F.